Prolonged sleep deprivation can lead to severe health problems in humans and other animals. But why is sleep so vital to our health? A UCLA-led team of scientists has answered this question and shown for the first time that a dramatic change in the purpose of sleep occurs at the age of about 2-and-a-half. The
Previous studies have found that certain proteins in the blood are associated with concussion or recovery time. These include tau protein, neurofilament light chain protein (Nf-L), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). An NIH research team tested whether these three proteins could be used as biomarkers to predict length of recovery time. They studied 127 male and female
The investigation of 68 patients with moderate TBI showed that light therapy statistically significantly altered multiple parameters. Low-level light therapy incorporates near-infrared light and is thought to elicit biostimulation through mitochondrial light absorption. “Some animal models have shown that those effects translate into full response, but it had never been shown in humans. Ours is
Much higher doses of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) than initially thought may be required to effectively fight Alzheimer’s disease (AD), new research suggests. In results that could explain why the omega-3 fatty acid has failed to prevent AD or slow its progression, investigators found that among individuals who took omega-3 supplements, DHA blood plasma levels were high, but
Even mild concussions cause severe and long-lasting impairments in the brain’s ability to clean itself of toxins, and this may seed it for Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and other neurodegenerative problems, new research from the University of Virginia School of Medicine reveals. The findings help explain why TBI is so harmful and why it can have
Drug Interactions The following products have been investigated in clinical drug–drug interaction studies with the RxOM3FAs [prescription omega-3 fatty acids]: warfarin (Vascepa, Epanova); omeprazole (Vascepa); rosiglitazone (Vascepa); atorvastatin (Lovaza, Vascepa, Omtryg); rosuvastatin (Lovaza, Omtryg); and simvastatin (Lovaza, Omtryg, Epanova).1–4,23–28 No drug–drug interactions were observed. The package inserts for all RxOM3FAs note that patients who are receiving
Young people with certain learning disorders, such as attention-deficit disorder/attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) and dyslexia, can perform worse on commonly used concussion tests, a new study shows. Of the 1298 individuals in the study, 58 had been diagnosed with dyslexia, 158 had been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, and 35 had been diagnosed with both conditions. There was no difference
Increased levels of the omega-3 DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are associated with a lower risk of hospitalizations due to interstitial lung disease (ILD), according to a new population-based cohort study. Read more at: https://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Article/2020/08/27/Higher-omega-3-DHA-levels-linked-to-less-lung-inflammation-lower-ILD-risk#
Doctors replace your blood with the blood of a healthy person who’s never suffered a stroke. This blood swap lessens damage to your brain, and any neurological deficits from the stroke are nil. While there is no known single medication for stroke, the only FDA-approved treatment for ischemic strokes is tPA, or tissue plasminogen activator,
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), when caused by a bacterial toxin known as Staphylococcal enterotoxin, can be completely prevented by treatment with Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. This exciting finding, recently published in the highly cited British Journal of Pharmacology, also suggests a possible treatment for ARDS caused by COVID-19. When inhaled,
A new blood test could help doctors monitor those who are at risk of developing psychiatric disorders. The test looks for specific protein biomarkers in blood samples of those with risk factors for psychiatric illnesses and can help to predict who is most likely to develop psychosis in the future. The study is published in
Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder involving a wide range of cognitive, emotional, and social function impairments and altered brain structure. Recent findings suggest a continuum approach: that continuous symptoms and psychiatric disorder related traits can be integrated as risk features for the development of the corresponding disorders. In order to bridge this gap of
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability. Post-injury distress is common, with many individuals experiencing chronic anxiety and depressive symptoms as well as chronic pain. In this collection of articles in the journal NeuroRehabilitation, experts report on findings that shed light on the relationship between stress and pain following a TBI
Melatonin could improve brain functions related to sleep quality in children recovering from concussion, according to a University of Queensland study. Using the latest brain mapping techniques, researchers examined Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans from 62 children before and after taking melatonin or a placebo in a randomised clinical trial. Child Health Research Centre’s Dr
Every year, 150 to 300 children in the United States are diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPGs), aggressive and lethal tumors that grow deep inside the brain, for which there are no cures. In a study funded by the National Institutes of Health, researchers showed that experimental drugs designed to lower the body’s natural
While movement problems are the main symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, people with the disease often have non-motor symptoms such as constipation, daytime sleepiness and depression 10 or more years before the movement problems start. A new study suggests that eating a healthy diet in middle age may be linked to having fewer of these preceding
An association has been found in living patients exposed to repetitive head impacts and difficulties with cognitive functioning and depression years or decades later. The findings, published in the journal Neurology, reveal that participants with a history of both repetitive head impacts and TBI reported greater depression symptoms than those who did not have such history.
A single dose of cannabidiol (CBD) helped increase blood flow to the hippocampus, an important area of the brain associated with memory and emotion. In the study, published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, researchers set out to investigate how CBD influences cerebral blood flow in different regions on the brain involved in memory processing. For the randomized controlled study, 15
A drug candidate developed by Salk researchers, and previously shown to slow aging in brain cells, successfully reversed memory loss in a mouse model of inherited Alzheimer’s disease. The new research, published online in July 2020 in the journal Redox Biology, also revealed that the drug, CMS121, works by changing how brain cells metabolize fatty molecules
Research led by Nicolas Bazan, Boyd Professor and Director of the Neuroscience Center of Excellence at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, and Ludmila Belayev, MD, LSU Health New Orleans Professor of Neuroscience, Neurology and Neurosurgery, has unlocked a key fundamental mechanism in the communication between brain cells when confronted with stroke. They report
